The Association between Weight-Related Attitudes and Suicidal Ideation in Adults

Hyeongjin Jeon; Kounseok Lee; Hyun Jin Kim; Young Moon Lee; Jun Won Kim

doi:10.4306/jknpa.2014.53.2.114

Journal List > J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc > v.53(2) > 1017671

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Jeon, Lee, Kim, Lee, and Kim: The Association between Weight-Related Attitudes and Suicidal Ideation in Adults

Original Article

Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2014; 53(2): 114-121.

Published online: 31 March 2014

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4306/jknpa.2014.53.2.114

The Association between Weight-Related Attitudes and Suicidal Ideation in Adults

Hyeongjin Jeon, MD¹, Kounseok Lee, MD², Hyun Jin Kim, MD¹, Young Moon Lee, MD¹, Jun Won Kim, MD^1,³

¹Department of Psychiatry, Gongju National Hospital, Gongju, Korea.

²Department of Psychiatry, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

³Graduate School, Chung-Ang University, Seoul, Korea.

Address for correspondence: Jun Won Kim, MD. Department of Psychiatry, Gongju National Hospital, 623-21 Gobunti-ro, Gongju 314-200, Korea. Tel +82-41-850-5877, Fax +82-41-853-2095, f_affection@hotmail.com

Received 13 November 2013 Revised 27 December 2013 Accepted 24 January 2014

Abstract

Objectives

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between weight-related attitudes and suicidal ideation among adults.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross-sectional national health survey. We used a nationally representative sample of 12287 Koreans older than 19 years of age (5266 men and 7021 women). We used the logistic regression model to examine the relationship between weight-related attitudes and suicidal ideation, controlling for demographics, depressive mood, perceived stress, and substance use.

Results

A significantly higher number of women than men reported suicidal ideation (women : 18.3%, men : 10.3%). In men, weight control behavior aimed at weight loss (vs. no control) showed an association with suicidal ideation. For women, weight control behavior aimed at maintaining a certain weight (vs. no control) and obesity (vs. being underweight), as determined by Body Mass Index category, showed an association with suicidal ideation. For both sexes, distortions regarding perceived weight did not significantly affect suicidal ideationn.

Conclusion

The results of this study suggest that weight-related attitudes, such as weight control behaviors, are useful indicators for identification of individuals at risk of committing suicide.

Keywords: Weight attitudes, Weight control behavior, Suicidal ideation

Figures and Tables

Table 1

General characteristics of study population by gender

^*: p≤0.05, ^**: p≤0.001, ^†: Analyses using t-test. SD : Standard deviation, SES : Socio-economic status, BMI : Body Mass Index

Table 2

Comparison of characteristics on suicidal ideation according to gender

Analyses using χ²-test. ^*: p≤0.05, ^**: p≤0.001. SES : Socio-economic status, BMI : Body Mass Index

Table 3

Adjusted OR and 95% CI regarding suicidal ideation by gender

Model 1 : ORs were adjusted for age, socio-economic status, education, feeling under stress, alcohol, smoking. Model 2 : Depressive mood was additionally adjusted. ^*: p<0.05. OR : Odds ratio, CI : Confidence interval, BMI : Body Mass Index

Notes

The authors have no financial conflicts of interest.

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